1. Members of classic, classic plus, premium, nuvos or alpha can top-up their benefits by buying added pension. This can be bought via a lump sum payment or monthly contributions.
2. Members of alpha are also able to buy an EPA (by monthly contributions only). By contributing to an EPA, members of alpha are able to take part of their pension earlier than their Normal Pension Age (NPA) without any early payment reduction.
3. Members can choose to buy added pension via lump sum (through payroll or by cheque) or monthly contributions (through payroll). Please note: alpha members cannot buy added pension via lump sum in their first 12 months of alpha membership; they can only do so via monthly contributions.
4. Members who wish to pay for their added pension by monthly contributions can only start from 1 April - or the date the member joins alpha, if different (see information about purchases for the 2018/19 scheme year, below).
5. If a member applies to buy added pension or EPA within three months of joining the scheme, their payment can be backdated to the date they joined.
6. Buying added pension before 1 April 2018
The table below shows the maximum amount of added pension that members are eligible to buy before 1 April 2018.
|
Membership |
Maximum amount of added pension |
|
classic |
£5,300 (plus a lump sum amount of £15,900) |
|
premium, classic plus or nuvos |
£6,600 |
|
alpha |
£6,600 |
7. To ensure that the application can be processed, members must ensure that the scheme administrator receives their application and cheque (if applicable) to purchase added pension by lump sum before the deadlines shown below.
|
Buying added pension |
Deadline |
|
Lump sum through payroll |
21 February 2018 |
|
Lump sum by cheque |
23 February 2018 |
8. Purchasing added pension during 2018/19
Members of classic, classic plus, premium, nuvos and alpha will be able to buy added pension in those schemes in 2018/19 as long as they remain a member. The maximum amount of added pension that members can buy in 2018/19 is:
|
Membership |
Maximum amount of added pension |
|
classic |
£5,500 (plus a lump sum amount of £16,500) |
|
premium, classic plus or nuvos |
£6,800 |
|
alpha |
£6,800* |
|
* this limit may be reduced if the member is also buying EPA |
|
9. If a member of classic, classic plus, premium or nuvos moves into alpha, they will only be able make an option to buy added pension and/or EPA in alpha from the date they move into alpha. Again, please note: alpha members cannot buy added pension via lump sum in their first 12 months of alpha membership.
10. For a transition member (that is a member currently in classic, classic plus, premium and/or nuvos who is moving into alpha at some point in the future), added pension is purchased in the scheme in which they are an active member when they make the option, not the scheme they are in when the contributions commence.
11. The limit for alpha added pension and EPA is £6,800 and is separate from the limit for classic, classic plus, premium and nuvos. It will be possible for members to buy the maximum amount in alpha even if they have already bought the maximum amount in classic, classic plus, premium, or nuvos).
12. Purchasing EPA during 2018/19
Members of alpha cannot buy EPA if they have bought the maximum amount of added pension. There is no limit on how much EPA a member can buy. However, it counts towards the limit of added pension allowed.
13. Members who wish to buy added pension or an EPA by monthly contributions for 2018/19 must send their completed application form to the scheme administrator by 16 March 2018.
14. Information for members
You should signpost members to the dedicated Added Pension and EPA pages on the scheme website where they can find the following information:
Leaflets and booklets
The Added Pension leaflet contains information for members of classic, classic plus, premium and nuvos. It can be found by clicking here or visiting
www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/members/publications/
Taking Control of your Retirement Planning contains information about added pension and EPA for alpha members. It can be found by clicking here – or visiting
www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/members/alpha-guide/
Calculators
The added pension calculators and EPA estimator enable members to see how much added pension and/or EPN can buy and how much it will cost.
Application forms
To apply for added pension or EPA, members must complete the relevant application form and return it to the address provided on the form.
Added pension application from
EPA application form
|
Contacts If you have a question about the distribution of EPNs or you need to receive them in a different format contact employerpensionnotice@cabinetoffice.gov.uk You can find electronic copies of the Employers’ Pension Guide, all current EPNs and forms on our website www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk under ‘Employers’. This notice is for employers and should not be issued to scheme members. If members have a question about their pension they can find information at: |